Darrell Bunn has been charged with historical sex offences dating back to the 1980s

An Olympics coach and former Birmingham school teacher has been charged with a string of child sex offences.

Darrell Bunn, who has coached some of Great Britain’s top athletes, has been charged with historical sex offences dating back to the 1980s.

The former PE teacher, who lives in Bromsgrove, has been charged with 15 offences and will appear before magistrates in Birmingham later this month.

The 64-year-old, who was previously head of PE at Northfield’s Colmers Farm School before retiring, is facing 12 counts of indecent assault with a child under the age of 16.

He is also charged with three offences of taking a child so as to remove them from a person who has lawful control.

Bunn has trained star athletes including Olympic gold medal winning heptathlete Denise Lewis, although there is no suggestion that the West Bromwich-born star has any connection to the police investigation.

A source close to married athletics coach Bunn told the Mail he has had his coaching licence suspended by UK Athletics whilst the investigation has been ongoing.

He added: “He is not coaching at the moment because of a suspension, but in the past he has coached at Birchfield Harriers.

“He has worked with top stars and has travelled to a number of major tournaments, including the Olympics.

“For a number of years he has also been a national coach. He is very well thought off and respected in the athletics world. I know that he was head of PE at a Birmingham school for more than 20 years before he retired.”

As well as coaching individual athletes, Bunn also formerly held the post of National Coach for Heptathlon and has travelled to Olympic, Commonwealth and European events.

A spokeswoman for British Athletics said: “We cannot comment on this case because of the legal process, but we can confirm that Mr Bunn’s licence to coach is currently suspended.”

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: “A former athletics coach has been charged with 12 counts of indecent assault